Smoke-free listings take off in NYC

In 2008, there was just one New York City rental listing in a “smoke-free” building and zero sales listings. But since last year that number has jumped to roughly 1,488 rentals, 100 condos and 66 co-ops listed in smoke-free buildings, according to StreetEasy data.

And the number of smoke-free listings this year looks like it will surpass those figures, with 1,200 rentals, 71 condos and 34 co-ops listed in the first five months of 2014, according to DNAinfo.

“There are little tricks of the trade that go far in addressing the problem,” attorney Steven Sladkus said. “[A ban] is a big step to take and it usually takes a big problem to prompt the board to do something like this. You’re essentially telling somebody what they can or can’t do in their apartment, and a lot of people feel strongly about the restriction of liberties.” [DNAinfo] – Christopher Cameron